About Rebecca & Zuko
Certified Dog Trainer ATN and NHB Instructor
Member of the Initiative for Force-Free Dog Training & the Internationaler Berufsverband der Hundetrainer:innen und Hundeunternehmer:innen (IBH) e.V.
Dogs have been part of my life for as long as I can remember, but my dog Zuko has shaped my journey more than any other. He’s still by my side today: affectionate and playful, yet in the beginning I struggled with his reactivity toward other dogs. Walks that should have been relaxing often turned into stressful experiences. Discovering positive reinforcement training changed everything. Step by step, Zuko learned to feel more comfortable around dogs, and I learned just how powerful and rewarding force-free training can be.
This experience inspired me to dive deeper into the science of canine behavior. I enrolled at the ATN Academy of Applied Animal Psychology and Behavior Training and, in 2023, became a certified dog trainer. Today, I’m passionate about guiding people and their dogs on their own journeys – with patience, respect, and heart.
As a mother of a wonderful child, I also continue to learn every day about creating harmony between dogs and children. Supporting families in building a balanced, joyful life together is something I deeply value.
Philosophy
At Happy Hounds, my mission is to help you build a trusting, harmonious relationship with your dog. I rely exclusively on force-free methods – approaches that are scientifically proven, respectful, and effective.
I’ll give you the tools and understanding to recognize your dog’s signals and communicate with clarity. This creates a safe and supportive environment where your dog can thrive, gain confidence, and strengthen the bond you share.
My goal is to guide you toward raising a calm, confident, and happy companion – for a lifetime of trust and connection.
Education and Qualifications
Certifications:
January 2025: in training as Dog Behaviorist at the ATN
November 2023: Certified NHB Instructor
November 2023: Certified Dog Trainer from the ATN
April 2023: Certification in Canine Sciences from the ATN
December 2015: Bachelor of Arts Psychology (Focus on Development and Education), The Pennsylvania State University
Continued Education:
2025 Medical Training: Körperpflege und Tierarztbesuche entspannt meistern Teil 1-3 - Anna Oblasser-Mirtl und Barbara Glatz
2025 Erste Hilfe Hund - Katja Krauß
2024 Trennungsstress - Aggressionsverhalten - Medical Training - Chirag Patel (2.5 day Seminar)
2024 Training von Höflichkeit und Selbstkontrolle mit dem Hund - Stephan Gronostay
2024 Spay/Neuter of Dogs: What every dog trainer should know - Dr. Daniela Zurr
2024 Kind und Hund: Prävention von Beissvorfällen Teil 1&2 - Aurea Verebes
2024 Trennungsstress 2.0 Teil 1-3 - Dr. Ute Blaschke-Berthold
2024 Separation Anxiety in Dogs - Malena DeMartini-Price
2023 Distanz-Emotions-Training - Bina Lunzer
2022 Die grössten Mythen & Fakten in der Hundeernährung - Jessica Lepa
2022 Angst & Tierschutzhunde - Marco Iten
2022 Stress und Tiere - Online Kongress
2022 Do as I Do: Training durch soziales Lernen - Helge Becker
2022 Too Hot to Handle: Understanding and Working with the "Reactive" Dog - Dr. Christopher Pachel
2022 Kind und Hund - Christine Kompatsch
Seminars:
2023 Übungen selbständig anleiten - Irène Julius
2023 Trick & Beschäftigung 2 - Sandra Burri
2023 Tier im Recht - Alexandra Spring
2023 Planung und Aufbau des Trainings von Kursen - Irène Julius
2022 Tricks & Beschäftigung 1 - Sandra Burri
2022 Kommunikation mit Kunden - Dorothée Schneider
2022 Verhaltenstraining 2: Jagdverhalten - Rebekka Legenstein
2022 Verhaltenstraining 1: Mit dem Hund unterwegs - André Känel
2022 Lernen & Erziehung 3 - André Känel
2022 Ontogenese 2 - Irène Julius
2022 Lernen & Erziehung 2: Übungen mit dem Hund - André Känel
2022 Ontogenese 1 : Umgang mit Welpen - Irène Julius
2022 Lernen & Erziehung 1: Übungen mit dem Hund - André Känel
2022 Ausdrucksverhalten - Gerrit Stephan
